5am And The Joy Of Late Night Runs (or aka 'Run In Trail Vs City')

"Many endurance athletes insist on waking up super early to train. I am not one of those athletes. I'm a runner, not a fucking werewolf."

- The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I run Long Distances, 
by Matthew Inman, 'The Oatmeal'

Courtesy of Terry Tan

I have know some crazy friends who drag their half-dead bodies up four something in the morning just to do a very early morning run in MacRitchie, the trails near Bukit Timah Hill or anywhere else runnable.

But mostly trails.

The nobility of this admirable effort did not escape me. The early bird catches the worm, they say, and the runner who starts early gets ahead of the herd, which is about the same way I approach my work life by being first in the office several minutes before.

I gave it a try and, one Saturday morning, decided that I would wake at 4.30am and start running at 5. I can't remember which of the Saturdays, the second or the fourth, etc, I finally succeeded. Of the times I came to, the feeling is like a hangover, just without the agony of alcohol-overdose. Once the run starts, the initial minutes of the session is a trial period of cautious expectations against a steady rise of breathings. I wondered if my body will be awake enough to accept the grind.

On those lucky days, it went far. From home in Hougang to MacRitchie is 10km, no matter how you try to navigate and shortcut the route. It is enough to warm the system up for the next leg, 20-30km+ of trail running.

Because it was still in the wee hours, darkness still shrouded over MacRitchie's forest. Running without lights (except for the 80 lumens headlamp) is a hairs-on-end attempt for virgins and will take time to get used to. Eventually, it is a rewarding thrill once you embrace the invisible surroundings, and more easily than in daytime, you become one with the natural environment. The relief of sunlight gradually materialises and rest of the morning feels fresher. From there, you are bound to end the LSD on a positive note.

For that very reason, running from 5am on can be inviting. 

However, life is not perfect and sometimes the best of intentions is not without hiccups.

The key problem in the Hougang-Macs route is a stretch along Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, next to an industrial estate and right before the CTE Expressway towards Ang Mo Kio Station. About or near there, I collided with The Wall and found my heart palpitating too hard. Or else, I just felt that I was not in the right condition to run on. One memorable occurrence led me to conclude the session prematurely at Macs... McDonalds, actually.

Today, it rarely features on my Garmin Connect training calendar. Only on certain days when I need to be at some place in the morning and I will try to get up early for a LSD along the Sengkang-Punggol park connector. 

Otherwise, I have never cultivate a fondness towards combating the overwhelming Sleep Monster. 

I lost most of the time.

Another stay-off factor: coming home early on a Friday night. On the final weekday, nothing beats TGIF to a pulp like being reminded the complete loser you are for not having friends to meet for dinner or at least, arranging for movie-night out. 

A waste of a potentially fabulous evening. Something had to be done.

Like rescheduling the LSD. Like making it happen after work and pounding till the late night. Like really running and fueling and then running still and not risk bumping into the Iron Curtain of Run at AMK Ave 3. And since I started, it's a much more fruitful journey I had ever embarked on for my long runs.

The trails of Singapore are still many runners' favourite haunt to escape the bustle of the city and for a short time, it worked for me. But trails in the island are not mountains and elevation profiles with many tall spikes (compared to the other cousin, Hong Kong), and with only two main hills, one of which has the audacity to named itself 'Mount' Faber. 

Naturally, I'm a city boy and choose to eagerly engage its streets. There's a kind of pride when running through Orchard Road, realising that while people are actively killing their wallets through gluttony and materialism, I'm doing my best to prepare my body for the coming apocalypse, when fitter-than-norm humans will outrun sprinting zombies. 

Courtesy of Terry Tan

In the absence of extensive greenery, I still find a quiet spot in the midst of concrete dwellings, where the deepest introspection can be summoned. It can be a deserted public park. The silent neighborhood of Emerald Hill. Or lamposts. Orange-beam lamposts by the road side where a lonely soul seeks solace under.

I have discovered so many of my solitary peace zones in the city, and usually at night, that I could not shun off the romantic attachment that has developed. I found my mind wandering effortlessly into the deep and viewed through the sagas of my life with better contemplation.

There's a high that follows, having completed 30-40km, and it draws you into a good night sleep at 3am, then waking up late at 10am+.

Beats waking up at 5.   

Courtesy Of Terry Tan

So TP Is Deploying New Cameras At Traffic Junctions. But How About Zebra Crossings?

Recently, I found out that the Singapore Traffic Police (TP) are replacing all wet-film-based cameras in the island.

According to Channel NewsAsia, the new equipments offer "better resolution and clarity, and ...transmit image data directly from the site...". This means that any motorists who beats the red light stands a higher chance of being caught in the act, as emphasised by the dropping numbers of fatalities since 2011.

It is a good step forward; inerrant drivers have been a major concern of late, with the infamous Rochor Road accident in 2012 being possibly the worst in the last few years.

However, there seems to be a overlooked portion in the exercise to restrain recklessness on the road, and that is, the zebra-striped pedestrian crossing.

These sections might, in the past, have served well to signal motorists to slow down and stop when pedestrians bear the 'right of way' over the marked section. These days, the markings served as a kind of boundary you will find at bowling alley lanes; the type that rests right before a stack of  10 pins, and, metaphorically, whatever car that comes along is the rolling ball at high speed.

You know what the pins represent.

Since I started running years back, such a situation is becoming a more common experience. To be fair to rest of the motorists, many have the decent courtesy to decelerate and halt when I crossed over. My main beef is against those with an unintentional agenda to kill someone, thereby a very good time for these douches to stop mistaking a zebra crossing as a F1 finish line.

I'm not sure if some of these drivers had learned their lessons after a close brush with causing death. Every time, one screeched to a halt, their expression are an irritated look, an angry heave of the arm or, in my most recent encounter, a face that turns away as if fearing responsibility.

In most cases, my answer is The Bird, not a temper-losing gesture I'm proud of.

No doubt, it has arrived at the stage that, in an unspoken and de facto rule, drivers actually has the right of way when it comes to the zebra crossing. As pedestrians, we should mature to this reversal of roles. Our survival is no longer dependent, not even partially, on traffic light signals but that we are our own preserver of our lives and safety.

I have occasionally told people that with enough time spend in Hanoi, Vietnam, one could survive crossing the raging river of the city's motor traffic, maybe just suffering a harmless bump from a bike during the first two days.

Vietnamese drivers / riders are actually a misunderstood bunch; for what is perceived as undisciplined and chaotic manners of commandeering a vehicle, these people actually possessed a higher sense of situational awareness on the road. The advise, that you should walk through a Vietnamese traffic rush with great confidence, is perhaps a nod to the wordless but effective motion-based communication between pedestrians and motorists even if they virtually ignore official regulations.

Back in Singapore, you stand a higher chance of fatality at a quiet zebra crossing.  

You stand a higher chance of getting killed at a zebra crossing in Singapore than in the chaotic rush of this Vietnamese motor traffic.

                          

 

Running What You Pay For

Race fees are increasing in local running events. This year's registration cost for the annual Stanchart Marathon Singapore, for example, had stand at a maximum rate of $80. But it's not just a trend in Singapore alone. Registration cost for the famous ING New York City Mararthon had risen to USD $207 (SGD $252), a price gap of $139 from its 2000 edition. Runner's World even quoted that the event's race fee is "rising much faster than inflation..."

Such economic trend is inevitable. As race events seek to improve in both quality and the number of participations, more money will eventually be invested for the overall success of races.

According to an analyse of cost by Runner's World on the Green Bay Marathon, Wisconsin (USA), race fee distribution cost is at its highest, at USD $16.92, for staffing which includes payrolls for race directors, volunteer training, overtime payments and apparel for staff. In following is participant expenses which funds for elites' incentives and event goodies like T-shirts & medals. The rest of the costs went into equipment rentals, finances, security, office fees, advertisements, promotional events, F&B and course expenses.

Therefore, it's ironic that public demands for a well organized inaugural event and / or an improved edition of an annual race might have play a part in the increased fees. Once this is understood, it's pointless to make a credible complaint based solely on hefty price tags when much resources will be dedicated towards meeting the event's strategic goal, that is, an enjoyable race for the people.

Inflation in race fees cannot be avoided in modern times but while you will paying more than usual, it's reasonable expectation for organizers to ensure a value-for-money experience.

Participant feedbacks must never be snubbed or inadequately responded to especially when valid points are made which could determine the success of a race. Organizers have to refrain from over-promising and conduct a race which is within their means, ability and budget. Event details should also be made available at the earliest date possible .

The recent Malaysian Energizer Night Marathon had been widely tarnished for its poor course layout, insufficient race support, shortage of goodies handouts and the seemingly blatant ignorance of its race director. Another local race, an upcoming half marathon in mid July, received flak for a case of misleading advertisement and the rather late announcement that the distance will be ran in 2 loops... with four U-turn points.

In retrospect, some of the most successful running events were based on the fact that organizers did the best with what they had and could afford and provided sufficient information for participants' knowledge. Glowing reviews had been given for races like the MR25 Ultra & the Twilight Challenge, both loop ultramarathon events, for good race support and the strong atmosphere of camaraderie though the events were held within a restrictive course.

However, it's important to note that these are after all, smaller-scale events. As a running event grows in its area of operation, a larger load of problems will be taken into consideration and must be properly dealt with. Judging by the moderate success of the Stanchart Marathon in 2010, it can be a case study for similar scale local races in future.

*For more, check out 'Inner Workings: Race Fees', an article on the August 2011 edition of Runner's World.

           

The Weather Is Not Your Enemy

Anybody who actually makes a serious complaint about the weather and offers absurd suggestions to timed a running event in avoidance of an unfavoured climatic condition is missing the point that Mother Nature is inherently cruel.

I'm responding to what I found posted on the Stanchart'11 Facebook page.

Really, unless, you are doing The North Face 100 solo category, gunning off the Stanchart Marathon at 3am in the morning just does not make sense for most people. There are obvious reasons, some which include:

1) Waking up 2 - 2 and a 1/2 hours for preparations before race start: Which means I've to wake up at 12.30a.m ?? Which leads me to the second problem...

2)  Running in ungodly hours: I'm sorry but after two overnight running experiences, I can be sure that  while I will avoid the sunny heat, I probably can't say the same for a body that is generally not conditioned to running after midnight. Not many of us did that simply because we slept on most of these hours.

3) The issue of attaining a PB:  You can forget about achieving your best timing if your body is still not sufficiently awake in a timing it's not used to.

4) It will get wet and humid anyway, anytime: There is just no perfect technique in predicting (or preventing) weather. It rains when it has to. And early mornings does not mean that, all time, it will be cooling; midnight humidity are in fact reported to be higher than daytime.

The solutions are simple. If you are a slow runner, train yourself to run faster. If you are concerned about the weather messing up your systems, do acclimatizing runs.

The main problem for poor performance or the lack of enjoyment during a running event is really the lack of preparation.

In which case, not registering for the run is the best idea.

Stanchart 2010: Realized Dream

On the hot Sunday morning of 5th December, shortly after 9am, I triumphantly punched my right fist into the air as I wearily crossed the finish line at Saint Andrews Road by the Padang.

The race clock on the end point gantry read 4:00:47. In actuality (based on the Time Chip implanted on my shoe), I would missed my sub-4 target by 17 seconds.

There's,however, a more important realization than just meeting time records on one of the toughest race I ever participated. The realization that I had at last fulfilled a long-time goal: completing the 42.195km Standard Charted Marathon Singapore.

With less than a mile to go.....

Prior to 2010, this dream had been 'postponed' for 2 years, often due to the common excuses that I don't have 'enough time' or 'I got to concentrate on my studies' or, later on, 'I got to focus on my career'. When my career started to fall apart several months back, I knew I cannot afford to make any more excuses.

There will never be a perfect time to fight for your dreams.

So I did what I could. For 8 months, I got myself into regular, intensive training. I was running as much as I could even while battling to save my career in the early stages.

Now, as I look back, I have no regrets, whatsoever, of all the time and effort spent to prepare for this day. No regrets even if I might have pay a costly price for it.

On one memorable Sunday, I finally earned my debut status as a marathoner and who knows, what bigger adventures I'm about to get myself into.

YES!!! - Crossing the finish line at St Andrews Road
(I'm the guy on the extreme right, dressed in a white singlet).


You don't accomplished your goal alone -
Standing outside the New Balance / Team Fatbird hospitality tent at the Padang.
Operation Sunbird is a 12 weeks marathon training program led by Team Fatbird.